Covering-wheel.



L. E. R OBY. COVER ING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1912.

I ;i-50,537. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

INVENTOR.

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LUTHER E. ROBY, 0F PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

COVERING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed July 5, 1912. Serial No. 707,832.

To ((21 2071 cm. 1'25 may concern Be it known that I, Ln'rnnu E. R031, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covering-\Vheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to agricultural implements and especially to covering wheels for seeding machines.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a covering wheel which is capable of being adjusted or changed into four forms so as to form a ridge or a furrow either of which may be packed or left with a I central unpacked strip.

Another object is the provision of such a device which is very simple in construction being made of few' parts, and 111 whichthc' adjustment may be readily made.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts anddetails hereinafter described and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being understood however, that various changes may be made in practical construction within the scope of the claims without digressing fron my inventive idea.

In the drawings :Figure 1 represents a conventional type of a seeding machine with my improved wheel applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an-edge view of my improved covering wheel-adjusted so as to form a closed ridge. Fig. 3 is an edge view of my improved covering wheel adjusted so as to form a closed furrow. Fig. 4: is an edge view of my improved covering wheel adjusted so as to form a ridge with a central unpacked strip.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of my improved covering wheel adjusted so as to form a finrow with a central unpacked strip. Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the wheelsections. Fig. 7 is an end view of the hub member, and F ig. S is a side view of the hub member.

It is found in practice that the conditions of the soil and the season of the year require that the soil be operated on in different ways and for that reason it is necessary to provide a covering wheel for a seeding machine which is capable of various adj ustments.

some farmers, according to conditions and their individual opinions prefer to pack the soil in aridgc and others prefer to pack the soil in a furrow, all depending upon their opinion as to the method of securing the best results under the conditions then existing. The wheel as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will produce either a packed ridge or a packed furrow. Then again it may be advisable to pack the soil either in a ridge or a furrow 5 and leave a central unpacked strip directly over-the seeds to admit air and sunshine to theseeds and prevent the smothering of the early shoots by the formation of a crust. the'reover. The adjustments for such purposes are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. With this explanation of the general purpose of my device 1 will now proceed to the detailed explanation of its construction and adjustment.

Referring to the drawings and particularly'to Fig. 1, I have shown my wheel applied to fa conventional type-of seeding machine, in which A is the draft bar, B- the seed deliverer tube and C the furrow opener, D being the covering wheel.

It is, to be understood that my device is applicable to practically any form of seedin'g. machine.

This wheel may be broadly described as comprising two similar wheel sections which are reversible, and a hub portion. The hub portion has extended bearing'portions sep-. arated from each other by an annular flange, which annular flange is formed with a plu rality of projections preferably in the form, of extended sleeves or bosses separated by shorter sleeves or bosses. Each wheel ection is formed with a hub portion having projections preferably in the form of sleeves or bosses corresponding in number and arrangement to both of said sets of sleeves or bosses on the hub member. These projecting sleeves or bosses are provided with openings which when the wheel sections are placed on the hub member, are in alinement to permit the passage of bolts or other securing means therethrough. The wheel'sections may be" put on with their tread surfaces arranged relatively as desired to produce either a ridge or a furrow forming wheel. If it is desired to leave the central unpacked strip,

the sleeves or bosses on the wheel sections are in engagement with the longer sleeves or bosses on,the hub member which separates the bearing flanges of the wheel sections from each other as shown, and if it is desired to have the whole of the soil packed, then the sleeves or bosses on the wheel sec: tions will be in alinement with the smaller sleeves or bosses on the hub member which will permit the bearing flanges on the wheel sections to engage as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As the wheel sections 1 are the same in construction it will only be necessary to describe one of them. Each section has the hub portion 2 connected by the spokes 3 with the inclined bearing flange or tread portion, 4, which has at its upper extremity the annular b ad 5. The hub portion of each section is provided with suitable projections in the form of sleeves or bosses 6 spaced apart and located in pairs on oppo site sides of said hub portion leaving the spaces 7 therebetween. The hub member 8 has the extended bearing portions or sleeves having their outer surfaces slightly tapered,

as at 10. This hub member is provided centrally with the annular flange 11 which is provided with the projections in the form of extended bosses or sleeves 12 corresponding in position, number and arrangement to the projecting sleeves or bosses on the hub portions of the wheel sections. On said annular flange 11 intermediate said sleeves or bosses 12 are provided the shorter projections in the form of sleeves or bosses 13 which also correspond in number, position and arrangement to the sleeves or bosses 6 on the hub portions or wheel sections. All

of these projecting sleeves or bosses have apertures therethrough to receive the fastening means or bolts 1 1.

As the bearing flanges of the wheel sections are inclined as shown it is obvious that by changing their position on the hub member that either a furrow-forming or ridgeforming wheel may be made. If it is desired to leave a small strip of the soil unpacked, the wheel sections will be positioned on the hub member so that the projecting sleeves or bosses of the hub portions of the sections will engage and be in alinement with the longer projecting sleeves or bosses 12, the bolts 1% being passed through the wheel sections and the hub member therebctween. As shown in Figs. a and 5 this will space the bearing flanges and: the wheel. sections apart so as to'lcave a portion of the wheel. open which, when the wheel is used, will leave the central strip unpacked, which prevents the packing of the earth and the forming of a crust over the seeds, thereby allowing the air and sunshine easy access thereto to effect the quick germination of the seed and to prevent the smothering of the ,tender shoots. If it is desired to have the wheels so that all portions of the soil are packed, the wheel sections are positioned on the hub member'so that the sleeves or bosses 6 there- This permits the bearing season, conditions of soil, and the opinion of the farmers. Either a ridge or a furrow may be packed either with or without the center strip packed. This device is composed of the fewest possible parts, capable of ready adjustment and efficient in operation.

What I claim is 1. A covering wheel comprising two reversible wheelsectlons and a hub member, I

said wheel sections having their bearing surfaces or treads formed so as to provide a furrow-forming or ridge-forming wheel according to the relative position of said section, said wheel sections having means to operating with said hub member to hold the bearing surfaces or treads in spaced relation or in contact with each other.

2. A. covering wheel comprising two reversible wheel sections and a hub member, said wheel sections having their hearing surfaces or treads formed so as to provide a furrow-forming or ridge-forming wheel according to the relative position of said sections, and means for holding the bearing surfaces or treads of said wheel sections in spaced relation or in contact with each other, said means including relatively short and long projections alternately arranged on said hub member and projections on said sections. 1

A coverin wheel comprising two reversible wheel sections having their bearing surfaces or treads formed so to provide a furrow-forming or ridge-formingwheel according to the relative position of said sections, said wheel sections each having a hub portion provided with spaced bosses located thereon in pairs on opposite sides thereof, a hub member having elongated bearing. portions to receive said wheel sections, s: id hub member having relative short and long bosses alternately arranged thereon on opposite sides of its center in pairs, said bosses each being provided with an aperture, and fastening means adapted to pass through said apertures.

4. A wheel comprising a hub member formed with bearing portions and having a 'ilurality of relatively long and short projections located intermediate said bearing portions, and reversible wheel sections having means cooperating with said long and Short P J QQ iQHS on. said hub member to or bosses to hold the wheel sections in spaced 10 h l Said heel sections in spaced relation relation or in contact with each other. or in contact With each other. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

A Wheel comprising i a hub member in presence of two witnesses.

5, formed with hearing portions andhaving' a,

p ra ty of extended sleeves or bosses with LUTHER ROBY' relatively shorter sleeves or bosses located Witnesses: therebetween, and reversible wheel sections GEORGE T. BEAN,

having means cooperating with said sleeves MILDRED F. BOMAN. 

